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Applause: ArtLords activists try to reclaim Kabul – with paintbrushes

Author of the article:

Susan Schwartz • Montreal Gazette

Publishing date:

July 18, 2016 • 4 minute read

A mural from the ArtLords project in Kabul, co-founded by social and human-rights activist Omaid Sharifi. Images often include large eyes; some accompanied by the warning "I see you" or "God and the people are watching." Photo by Omaid SharifiOmaid Sharifi

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After years of war in Afghanistan, concrete walls in Kabul known as blast walls have gone up to protect such structures as embassies, police buildings and the homes of the powerful. These days the walls serve also as canvases for a group of activists and artists who call themselves ArtLords and create murals on those walls, with other citizens.

“We really wanted to do something to change the face of Kabul,” said ArtLords co-founder Omaid Sharifi in an interview with Applause. “It has to do with advocacy and awareness-raising.”

The goal of ArtLords, founded about two years ago, is to provide a platform for dialogue on such issues as corruption, extremism, equality for women and transitional justice, he explained. (Transitional justice consists of measures to redress legacies of human rights abuses; they include judicial measures like criminal prosecutions but also non-judicial measures, such as reparations programs and institutional reform.)

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ArtLords “is a social movement,” said Sharifi, a social- and human-rights activist in Afghanistan. Images on murals include large eyes, some accompanied by the warning “God and the people are watching.” Other scenes depict ordinary Afghans, from street sweepers to policewomen. Still others are about love and empathy.

“We named ourselves ArtLords to reclaim our cities,” he said. “It is an opportunity to introduce a different story from Afghanistan.” The term is a play on the term warlords — tribal leaders in Afghanistan who wield a great deal of power.

ArtLords is “a movement for accountability,” he said. “We use art as a tool. I speak in the universities – and the art (serves to) shine a light on our work.”

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The project has been showcased outside Afghanistan as well – in Berlin in December and in Montreal during the recent Mural Festival, an international public artfestival celebrating the democratization of urban art. The June 18 exhibition featured 15 canvases showcasing paintings of ArtLords murals and Sharifi gave a talk about the movement, its campaigns around Kabul and its citizen participation. “There was a lot of enthusiasm” for the project, he said.

Sharifi was in Montreal in June to participate in the 37th International Human Rights Training Program, a three-week program from Equitas to equip more than 90 human-rights defenders from 45 countries to fight more effectively against discrimination, inequality, violence and extremism. Montreal-based Equitas is a not-for-profit organization working for the advancement of equality and social justice. Participants in the program, held on the campus of John Abbott College in Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, included people from countries in the headlines including Afghanistan, Haiti, Colombia and Nigeria.

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An Equitas participant in 2014, Sharifi was a program co-facilitator this year – a kind of coach to participants. “We really learn a lot of good techniques about how to educate people,” he said. “You are with human rights activists and educators. You share ideas – and that is where the learning takes place.”

A photograph of a mural from the ArtLords project in Kabul, co-founded by social and human-rights activist Omaid Sharifi. The goal of ArtLords is to provide a platform for dialogue on such issues as corruption, extremism, equality for women. Photo by Omaid SharifiOmaid Sharifi

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At the fourth Goodman Cancer Research Gala, held June 5 in support of McGill University’s Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Research Centre, three researchers received awards: Dr. Ian Watson, assistant professor in McGill’s department of biochemistry, and a new recruit received the Future is Bright Award for his work in melanoma genomics research. Dr. Nahum Sonenberg, James McGill professor in the department of biochemistry, was presented with the Leadership Impact Award for his longstanding leadership in cancer research. The Limelight Award went to Dr. Nicole Beauchemin, professor in the departments of biochemistry, medicine and oncology, for her commitment to colon cancer research and to the centre’s public outreach forums.

The June event raised more than $2.1 million for the centre to fund foundational research, more effective diagnostic tools and development of new cancer treatments and therapies. The gala, held every two years, has raised more than $8.5 million and helped to raise the centre’s profile.

A loving tribute video honouring Rosalind Goodman, who died of cancer in August of 2014, was shown at the June gala.

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Gabrielle Rainbow, a Montreal-based cosmetic tattoo artist and founder of Twin Peonies, is hosting a campaign for cancer survivors who have lost their eyebrows to cancer treatments. She is offering free microblading, a form of semi-permanent 3D eyebrow tattooing, to one woman each week throughout July.

“Hair loss can be traumatic and affect your self-esteem,” Rainbow said. Using her skills “to help others feel beautiful in their skin again is extremely rewarding.”

Women who have completed cancer treatment are eligible to enter the giveaway by going to Rainbow’s website, www.twinpeonies.com, and clicking on the tab #YouAreBeautiful. One name is drawn at random every Friday all month and posted on Facebook and Instagram. Her standard rate for microblading is $400, but cancer survivors pay half that, publicist Camille Chacra said.

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